Here we are. Chapter 7! Please enjoy!

If you have any suggestions, I welcome them. :)

Sam stared blankly at the knife. He was exceedingly confused. Wasn't the whole point of the Butterfly Project for him not to cut? So why was Ratchet giving him a knife? The same question seemed to be radiating from Bumblebee and Ironhide, the latter looking angry.

"Ratchet, what is the meaning of this?" Ironhide demanded.

"He needs something sterilized to cut with if the urge hits. I do not want him using rocks," Ratchet said defensively.

Sam blinked. That made sense. The rocks had caused such a bad infection that Sam was actually relieved to have something safer to cut with. He smiled up at the medic, ignoring Ironhide's angry glare.

"Thanks, Ratch," he said with a smile.

"You are quite welcome, Sam. Now, there are a few instructions that go with this…"

An hour and a half later, Sam's head was reeling. The influx of information was just too much. Ratchet had instructed him on when to come for medical attention, how deep he should cut, and even had given him a tetanus shot (though where he got the damned shot, Sam wasn't sure). Just as Sam folded up and pocketed the knife and turned to walk away, Ratchet spoke again.

"Oh, and one more thing," Ratchet said, and Sam's eyes widened. "Get ready to leave. First Aid and I are going to take you grocery shopping."

Sam's demeanor relaxed and the small smile he had donned disappeared. "You never let me get what I want anyways. Just go without me."

"First Aid wishes to spend some time with you. You shall ride with him," Ratchet said as if Sam hadn't spoken.

Sam's head fell back and he sighed. "Fine."

Fifteen minutes later Sam was sullenly sitting inside of First Aid as they headed to the supermarket. The silence inside the vehicle was awkward, the medic unsure of what to say to the boy. Sam finally let out a breath.

"So how's life treating you?"

"Pardon? Oh…Life is treating me…fine?"

"Yep," Sam answered the question. "That's a right answer."

"Oh, good," the medic sighed. "Some things in this language confuse me. The double meanings have made Ironhide and Ratchet, and sometimes even Jazz, laugh at me. I don't understand it all."

He sounded sad, so Sam pet his steering wheel lightly, making the mech giggle.

"That tickles," he said softly.

"I know," Sam replied, sounding amused. "But Bee says it makes him forget when he's upset about something."

First Aid hummed. "I suppose it did." He paused. "I have a question."

"Shoot," Sam said, reclining back.

"What are the other humans like? The ones visiting tomorrow."

Sam sat bolt upright and gripped the seat hard, making the medic yelp. He ignored the noise and tried to fight down his rising panic.

"What?!" he squeaked. "T-they're visiting?!"

"Um, yes. I thought you knew," First Aid said worriedly.

"No!"

"Maybe I wasn't supposed to tell you that. It's the reason we're going on this shopping trip."

Sam flopped back against the chair and fought back anger and panic. How could they not tell him they were coming? Because they knew he would do just what he was doing now, he thought, answering his own question. He had made his position on seeing other humans quite clear the day after school had let out. The fact that William, Robert, Glen, and Maggie were coming over frightened him. He didn't want other humans to know about the abuse. They would pity him, unlike the mechs who just gave him what he needed without the pity.

"Sam?" First Aid queried hesitantly.

"I'm alright," he sighed. "You just surprised me with the information."

"Why does it bother you?"

Sam debated answering the question for a moment. "Because humans have certain thoughts about abuse and I don't want their pity."

"Oh. But they are your friends yes? They certainly won't judge you in that case."

"I wouldn't say friends. We're acquaintances, if anything. The only friends I have are Autobots."

"Why?"

"Because nobody in my own race cares about me. Humans don't like different. Not really."

First Aid didn't know what to say to that, but they had just arrived at the store. Sam leaped out and watched as Ratchet and First Aid's human holo-forms 'stepped out' of their vehicle forms. First Aid smiled kindly, his blue eyes showing his current discomfort with the human. Sam sighed and turned away; he heard Ratchet querying about his behavior. The boy walked into the store and he heard rapid footsteps. First Aid suddenly appeared beside him.

"Sam!" the mech said, pressing a hand on his shoulder. "I…I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's fine, Aid. I promise," Sam assured him as they entered the store.

It was as bad as Sam remembered. Ratchet went off on a lecture to First Aid about what foods were appropriate, and he didn't let Sam get anything he really wanted. Sam finally couldn't stand it and excused himself to go to the bathroom.

He went in and waited patiently until everybody else left before he sighed and turned the water on, splashing his face a little bit. It wasn't enough to ruin his make-up, but enough to make him feel a little less irritated.

He moved to turn the water off when the spray suddenly arched up and began to fill what looked like a thin outline. Within a minute, the water mech stood in front of him. Sam stepped back, knowing he was not dreaming this time.

"Hi," he said without thinking.

"Hello, Samuel," the mech said with a smile. "You seem to be a little happier this time."

"Eh, I'm trying to stop cutting. Turns out most of them like me."

The mech chuckled softly and lifted a hand up to trace over Sam's cheek. "I knew they would. The ones that don't should eventually. It'll just take a little work."

"Um, alright. Hey, do you know that dirt mech?"

"We've…met," the mech said slowly, leaning against the sink.

"That's almost the same answer the other mech gave," Sam muttered.

"We do not like each other, to put it lightly."

"Why-" Sam heard the bathroom door open and he turned. "-not…"

Ron stood there, his jaw dropped and his eyes widened. Sam watched with his peripherals as the mech disappeared and water flooded down to the floor, soaking it. But Sam's eyes were riveted on Ron. Panic settled in Sam's chest and his breathing became erratic. Fear. Nothing but raw fear. And Ron stood in the doorway. Sam let out a gasp and the next thing he knew, he had slammed hard into First Aid's holoform. Somehow he had gotten out of the bathroom and into the grocery part of the store. First Aid stood swiftly and reached down towards him.

"Sam, are you alright?"

Sam saw not the kind mech, but his father reaching for him. "G-g-get away!" he shrieked and sprinted out of the store.

He ran for an unknown amount of time, but eventually stopped in an alleyway and curled up in a ball in the corner. It took him an hour to calm down, and he finally uncurled himself out of the ball he'd been in and looked around. He didn't recognize where he was. Something vibrated in his pants and he pulled his phone out and flipped it open. He had fifteen missed calls and his voicemail was full. He took a deep breath and listened to them one by one. The first one was from Ratchet, questioning his abrupt departure. Most of them were of an increasingly panicking Bumblebee. The last one, however, was Optimus Prime's gentle, caring voice telling him to come home or contact somebody.

Sam considered who to call for a moment then dialed for Optimus; he would be the most calm in this situation. The call was picked up immediately.

"Sam? Is that you?" Optimus asked calmly.

"Yes," Sam said quietly.

"Where are you?"

"I don't know," Sam replied.

"Hold on. Ratchet's tracking your signal…What are you doing downtown?"

"I don't know. I just…I saw my dad. He scared me," Sam said in a small voice.

"Oh, Sam. I'm sending Bumblebee to pick you up. No…I'm going to pick you up myself."

"Okay," Sam mumbled. "Hurry, please."

"I will Sam."

Within half an hour Optimus pulled up and opened his door. Sam, who had curled himself back up into a ball, leaped into the cab and snuggled against the passenger seat.

"It's alright Sam," Optimus said gently, his soothing voice washing away the boy's fear.

Sam slowly relaxed and finally sighed. "I'm sorry. Maybe Prowl's right about humans. Maybe we are useless."

"You aren't useless Sam," Optimus said sternly. "You aren't a burden, either. Prowl might say those things, but he doesn't know the depth of meaning they possess. I have assigned him to work in the police force. Maybe if he sees human suffering up close he'll realize just how valuable life is. All life."

Sam sighed. "Do you think it will work?"

"We can only hope, Sam. Now, talk to me about what happened."

Sam hesitated and decided to skip the part about the water mech; he didn't need Optimus doing what Bumblebee had done.

"There's nothing much to tell. I went to the bathroom and he came in while I was washing up. I…froze up. Got scared and somehow got past him into the store. I'm sorry I didn't answer any calls, but I was locked up. I can't remember anything after running out of the store. I was…Scared doesn't cover it."

"You were terrified," Optimus said gently. "It's alright to be terrified, Sam. It's understandable considering your past. I've encountered many terrified mechs in my time."

Sam gave a small smile. "Thank you."

"For?"

"Just…being you. You're…like the father I always wanted. Thank you," he repeated.

Optimus let out a throaty purring sound from his engine, which Sam had learned meant Cybertronians were extremely happy. Sam relaxed completely into the seat, but all too soon had to get out and into Optimus' hands.

By the time they reached the base, Bumblebee was in full Guardian Mode. He practically tackled Optimus and wrenched Sam away from him, cradling the boy to his chest. He growled when Ratchet moved forward and slapped away the hands that reached for him.

"No! He is staying with me and he is never leaving my side again!"

Sam didn't dare argue with Bumblebee in this instance. He knew the yellow mech would calm down soon, but for now he was content with staying with Bumblebee. Staying with any of the mechs at this point would help him feel safe. He would even go as far to say that Prowl would make him feel safe. After that thought, Sam sighed and pressed against his guardian. Wow, he really needed to get over this. Somehow.

He thought of the water mech briefly. He had now determined that he wasn't dreaming when he saw those mechs, and that they were two separate mechs. Based on the one encounter with the earth mech, he had a feeling that they were polar opposites. He just wished he knew more about them and why they were coming to talk to him.